Compression device for packages and bundles



May 15, 1956 E. c. BARKER ET 2,745,337

COMPRESSION DEVICE FOR PACKAGES AND BUNDLES Filed Nov. 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l h rL fi 50 Z75 g I $5 $4 L L- 15 45 zmegz c BZ r /EZQ May 15, 1956 E. c. BARKER ETA!- 2,745,337

COMPRESSION DEVICE FOR PACKAGES AND BUNDLES Filed NOV. 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l PACKAGE IN V EN TORS.

United States Patent COMPRESSION DEVICE F OR PACKAGES AND BUNDLES Ernest C. Barker, La Grange Highlands, and Shirley Bernard Brouse, Chicago, 11]., assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 5, 1951, Serial No. 254,874

1 Claim. (Cl. 100269) The present invention relates, generally, to means for compressing or de-bulking bundles or packages before they are tied, and it relates particularly to certain innovations and improvements in compressing or de-bulking apparatus for use in connection with banding or strapping machines.

In the wire tying or metal strapping of compressible packages and bundles, such as overstuffed telescopic cartons of wearing apparel, bundles of newspapers, blankets, and the like, it is desirable to compress or de-bulk such articles or packages before strapping them so that they will not become accidentally compressed by the superimposed weight of other packages during transportation or storage and the straps thereby loosened, and so that the cubage of the packages will be-reduced thereby conserving transportation and storage space.

In many instances it is not practicable to compress or de-bulk the packages simply by applying tension to the straps because the concentration of the compressive force is localized beneath the straps and does not result in materially compressing the rest of the article or package.

In order for the compressive force of the strap or wire to influence the rest of the package as much as possible, the practice has been to apply extreme tension to the straps and this often results in rupturing the container or excessively indenting the bundle at the edges under the straps.

One of the important objects of the invention is the provision of compressing or de-bulking means which will overcome the disadvantages of the present practice by operating so as to fairly uniformly compress a package or bundle before it is strapped and which will be semiautomatic in operation so as not to materially slow down or otherwise interfere with the normal strapping operatron.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved compressing or de-bulking apparatus which is especially adapted for use in connection witha banding machine and which is adapted to be readily attached or mounted on existing banding machines so as to compress or de-bulk objects to be banded or strapped.

Another important object of the invention is the combination of a compressing or de-bulking apparatus with a banding machine so that the release of a pressure plate is controlled automatically by the operation of the machine.

Still another important object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for compressing or de-bulking articles to be strapped or tied by wire or flat bands, which apparatus may be readily attached to banding machines and will operate uniformly to compress the articles before banding and to release the compression on the articles after banding has been completed so as not to materially slow down the normal operating time of the banding machine.

While the foregoing objects are indicative of the nature of the invention, it will be understood that certain other more specific objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the ice construction, arrangement and operation of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, one form of the invention is presented herein by way of exemplification, but it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other structurally modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing one embodiment of the invention mounted on the bundling platform of a banding machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view on enlarged scale showing a detail of the machine shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the controls for the machine shown in Fig. l.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings consists of a known and commercial type banding machine to which the bundle de-bulking or compressing apparatus of the present invention has been attached. By way of example, a semi-automatic type strapping machine of the type shown and described in Spoor Patent No. 1,999,144 has been used both in the accompanying drawings as well as in actual practice. Reference is hereby made to Patent No. 1,999,144 for a detailed description of the banding machine itself. It will, of course, be understood that the invention is useful in connection with other banding or strapping machines of the semi-automatic type as well as other types.

Referring to the drawings, the bundling table 5 constitutes one part of a frame or body which has side panels 6 and 7 between which extend upper and lower shelves 8 and 10, respectively. The machine is mounted on four corner casters 11-11 in order that it may be easily moved.

The compressing or de-bulking apparatus is operated by compressed air and for this purpose an air compressor 12 (Fig. 3) of a known commercial type is mounted on the upper shelf 8 and is arranged to be driven by an electric motor 13, the drive shaft of which is provided with a double pulley 14. A belt runs over one-half of the pulley 14 and over a pulley 15 mounted on the drive shaft of the compressor 12. A pipe line 16 connects the discharge port of compressor 12 with an air reservoir tank 17 mounted on the bottom shelf 10. The line 16 is provided with a check valve 18 so as to prevent the air in the reservoir tank 17 from exhausting back through the compressor and revolving it and the motor in a reverse direction when the motor is turned off. The compressor 12 is provided with a muffler 20 having an adjustable relief valve (not shown) and when the pressure within the reservoir tank 17 reaches the pressure for which the relief valve is set, the excess air pressure will exhaust through this valve into a mufiler bottle 19 so as to reduce the noise and pulsating of the relief valve.

The pressure line 16 is connected with the rear side of the tank 17 and air under pressure is exhausted or released from the tank 17 through a line 21 (Fig. 2) connecting with the front end of the reservoir 17 and leading to a pressure regulator valve 22 equipped with a pressure gauge 23 on the exhaust side of the regulator valve. The valve 22 serves to regulate the pressure delivered to a solenoid-operated four-way air valve 24. As will appear more fully hereinafter, the four-way valve 24 serves to admit pressure alternately to the upper and lower chambers of an air cylinder 25 which constitutes the power mechanism of the compressing or de-bulking apparatus. The four-way air valve 24 is of known commercial type and has four external ports. One of these four ports p 3 5 1 serves as a pressure intake Communicating with the air reservoir 17; two of the ports are pressure delivery ports and are connected respectively with opposite ends or chambers of the cylinder and, thefourth external port serves as an exhaust port for exhausting the air alternately from the opposite chambers of the cylinder 25. A pair of air pressure hoses 26-26 extend between the fourway valve 24 and the cylinder 25.- One of these hoses connects one [of the two pressure delivery ports of the valve 24 with one chamber of the cylinder 25 while the other hose connects the other pressure delivery port to the opposite chamber of the cylinder 25.

The four-way valve 24 may be of the type wherein the ported section of a sliding memberis located between two solenoids and this member has a solenoid plunger at each end. When oneof the solenoids is energized, the

sliding member is shifted in the direction thereof and by the'pro'per matching of the external or fixed ports with the ports in the sliding member, one of the chambers of the pressure cylinder 25is pressurized while the opposite chamber'is exhausted. Subsequently, the opposite solehold is energized and the sliding member is shifted in the opposite direction so that the chambers are reversely pressurized and exhausted.

In order to regulate the speed of operation ofthe com pressing or de-bulking apparatus, each of the lines 26-26 is provided with a speed control valve 27 and these may be positioned on the ends of the pressure lines 26 where they connect with the opposite chambers of the pressure cylinder 25. For example, the speed control valves 21 may be of the needle valve type so as to be adjustable to control the speed or rate at which air pressure is admitted to or relieved from the opposite chambers of the cylinder 25 The apparatus added to the banding machine for debulking or compressing the articles or containers to be strapped includes a main support post 30 having a base 31 by which it may be attached to the top of the platform Sadjacent one corner thereof. In order to obtain adjustnient in height as Well as angular position, the main support post 36 is provided with a telescoping upper support post 32 which is slidable therein. A clamp 33 having an operating handle 34 is provided on the upper end of the post 30 for clamping the slidable post 32 in any desired position. V

The slidable post section 32 is provided on its upper end with a T-fixture 35 through which a horizontal arm 36 extends so as to be slidably adjustable. in order to prevent the arm 36 from turning, it may be provided with a keyway and the fixture 35 may also have a key extending lengthwisetherethroughin a corresponding keyway with a pair of set screws 37 being provided for clamping the parts together.

The horizontal supportarm 36 is hollow so that the air pressure lines 26-26 may pass therethrough, this being a desirable feature in that it keeps these pressure lines but of the way of the operating foot or pressure plate 38 at all times regardlessof where this plate may be positioned. At is outer end the horizontal arm 36 is provided with a ring clamp 4% for clamping the air cylinder 25 in any desired vertical position intermediate the oppositeends thereof. The pressure plateor foot 33 is secured to the lower end of the piston rod which projects from the bottom end of the air cylinder 25. Preferably an arrangement is made whereby the plate 33 may be quickly re-.

moved and replaced with a pressure plate of another shape or size. Since the piston rod is rotatable, some means should be provided to keep the pressure plate 33 squared up withthe tying station of the platform 5 and atthe same time allow the plate to be rotated when necessary 'so that when the angle of the horizontal support arm 36 is changed, the pressure plate 38'can be again squared up with the table. Accordingly, a lower plate guide clamp 42 is attached to the central boss of the pressure plate 38 anda vertical guide rod 43 is mountedon one endof this 46; The operating lever of the 4 clamp so as to extend upwardly alongside the cylinder 25. The rod 43 passes through a hole provided therefor in an upper plate guide clamp 44 which is attached to the lower end of the air cylinder 25.

The downward movement of the pressure plate 38 is controlled by means of a foot switch 45. Retraction or upward movement of the pressure plate is'controlled in response to a microswitch or limit switch 46. The microswitch 46 is mounted on the machine in such a manner that it will be operated by some movingjelement of the banding machine after the knot has been tied. When the banding machine is of the semi-automatic type shownand described in the above mentioned Spoor Patent No. 1,999,144, the connecting rod referred to in the patent may be used as theoperating element for the microswitch banding machine is indicated at =37 in Fig. 2. i i

In Fig. 4 the microswitch 46 is shown mounted on a support bracket 50 which is adapted to be bolted onto the frame or body of the machine by means of a pair of bolts 5151 which pass througha horizontal slot 52 in the bracket. The height of the bracket 59 is such that the control button 53 of the microswitch 46 is directly in line with the projecting end of the connecting rod 80; The switch 46 is positioned so mat the button 53 is operated only-by the last to A5, of an inch of movement of the connecting rod 89 towardthe right. Close adjustment can be obtained by loosening the bolts 51 and shiftingthe plate or bracket 50 as required.

The electrical control system of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 5 to which reference is now made. The apparatus may suitably be powered from a single-phase, volt source such as is widely available for common household and building lighting and small appliance operation. The ground line is indicated at54 and the hot lines are indicated at 55 and 56. Lines 54 and 55 come intola motor control switch 57 which is conveniently mounted on the left-hand side panel 7, as shown in Fig. 2. l The terminals of the induction motor 13 are suitably connected to the three lines by means of the conductors as shown so that when the switch 57 is closed, the motor will be energized and placed in operation. When the singlepole foot switch 45 is closed, the left-hand solenoid unit 58 of thc'four-way valve 24 is energized and this shifts the solenoid plunger to the left. When the single pole limit switch or microswitch 46 is closed, the right-hand solenoid unit 69 is energized and this shifts the solenoid plunger tothe right. The single pole switches 4-5 and as open automatically unless they are held in the closed position, and the solenoids are fast-acting so that a momentary closure of either of these switches is sufficient to operate the solenoid unit so as to operate the valve 24. The sliding member of the valve 24 is operated solely in response to the solenoid units 53 and 69 so that it remains stationary in the position in which it is left when either of the solenoids is tie-energized. Inthis way, the air pressure is either maintained on the pressure plate and article being compressed when the pressure plate is down, or conversel pressure is maintained in the cylinder 25 to keep the pressure plate 38 up when the valve 24 is in the opposite position.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The motor control switch 57 is first closed so as to put the motor 13 in operation which in turn drives the compressor and operates the banding machine. The operator now places the package or bundle on the table or platform 5 in the proper position for handing. The operator then steps on the foot switch 45 and releases it. The left-hand solenoid 58 of the valve 24'is thereupon energized and the sliding 7 sure plate 38 is thus-lowered and engages the article and I compresses it to the desired degree. The speed control valves 27 prevent the pressure plate 38 from moving with such rapidity as to severely strike and injure the object being pressed.

After the object has been fully compressed, the operator passes the strap or wire around the package in the usual manner and then trips the operating lever 47 of the banding machine. This starts the operating cycle of the machine. which consists of loading the strap into the twister unit, tensioning the strap, twisting the strap, cutting or trimming the knot, ejecting the knot from the twister unit, re-feeding the cut end of the strap supply into the left-hand gripper of the machine, and disengaging the operating clutch, in order that it will be ready for the next cycle. This sequence and mode of operation is fully discussed in the aforementioned Spoor Patent No. 1,999,144.

A split second after the knot is trimmed, the right-hand gripper unit of the banding machine is moved still farther tothe right by the tension cam in order to get the cut end of the strap out of the way of the knot-ejecting fingers. It is this last rightward movement of the right-hand gripper unit that causes the end of the connecting rod 89 to momentarily engage and depress the operating button 53 on the limit switch 46.

When the switch 46 is operated, it causes the right-hand solenoid unit 60 to be energized so as to shift theslide member of the four-way valve 24 to its opposite position and thereby admit pressure to the lower chamber of the cylinder 25' and exhaust the pressure out of the upper chamber. This results in the raising of'the pressure plate 38 to its upper position to allow for the removal of the tied package and the insertion of another one to be tied.

It is important that the timing of the operation of the pressure plate 38 be so coordinated with the operation of the banding machine that the downward pressure exerted by the plate 38 on the article being tied is not released until after the knot in the wire or strap has been completed, thereby transferring the burden of maintaining the compression of the package from the pressure plate to the wire or strap the split second that the pressure plate leaves the package.

It will be seen that the operation of the article compressing or de-bulking apparatus is so coordinated with respect to the operation of the banding machine that it does not significantly increase the speed With which the banding machine is normally operated.

The word wire as used above and in the claim designates either round wire or flat band, and the word tying is intended to include within its meaning the formation of any sort of joint, whether the twisting together ofoverlapped wire portions or the coupling together of either overlapped or abutting flat band portions, by deformation or shear, application of a joining sleeve, or welding.

I Having fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

Apparatus for compressing a package resting on a platform comprising a post upstanding on said platform and having a T-head, means mounting said post for angular adustrnent about its own axis, a horizontal arm slidable through said head and extending over said platform, a ring clamp at one end of said arm, a double-acting fluidpressure cylinder held erect in said clamp, said cylinder being vertically adjustable in said clamp and having a piston rod extending downwardly therefrom and a package-engaging plate carried by said rod, said arm being tubular, and a conduit extending from each end of said cylinder through said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 699,535 Kelley May 6, 1902 1,179,822 Cransden Apr. 18, 1916 1,983,473 Leaver Dec. 4, 1934 2,339,395 Harvey Jan. 18, 1944 2,415,766 Shapiro Feb. 11, 1947 2,500,819 Hall et a1. Mar. 14, 1950 2,599,269 Markle June 3, 1953 2,642,797 Peters June 23, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 352,709 Germany May 2, 1922 547,654 Great Britain Sept. 4, 1942 

